Toshiba K01 hands-on
By Sean Cooper 
posted February 15th 2010 1:58PM
posted February 15th 2010 1:58PM
Toshiba's K01 is exactly what we would've liked to have seen as a complementary set to the TG01. Happily, Toshiba's given us a QWERTY option with the new model, added capacitive touch, and swapped out the earlier display for a swanky new AMOLED version. Key feel is a bit rough on the outside keys -- shift, delete, enter -- but this device still isn't final, and with all that real estate, the layout feels just great. In fact, the devices being shown on the floor are just looping a demo video and not really showing off the UI as seen above; we couldn't get any film of it, so the pics we got will have to suffice. We like what they've done here -- in fact, this could make an excellent day to day set if battery life proves good enough. We also can't help but notice the three buttons (soft touch) across the bottom that could quite easily be skinned for Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 Series, could they not? A bunch of pics are just below.
@NostrodamusEffect
Really? Don't you listen to the podcast? Josh plainly said that "Yes, I am on Apple's payroll." He went on to thank Jobs for financing his latest Lamborghini. He reviewed the iPad and said he loved the iT (purposeful uppercase) more than puppies and rainbows combined. That not even a Rainbow spewing, Laser-eye'd robo-pup with cuteness turned up to 11 could change his mind. Oh and didn't you notice they're covering MWC? No you probably didn't, because you're unobservant. IMHO
*wants*
@tklr08
check out those hard keys for the soft keys ;) Not gonna work in wp7s.
@tklr08 If there is one star device so far of Mobile World Congress it would be the Toshiba K01. The 4.1 inch capacitive screened device has all the specs where it matters, and may even be upgradable to Windows Phone 7 series. More: http://bit.ly/toshiba-k01-ripped
that looks like spb mobile shell3..
@silversun that actually spb mobile 5 that just came out at MWC 2010..
@jeanmystere SPB 5 runs on Android, not Windows Mobile
@Luxury Guy
No, Android, WinMo and Symbian.
http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/press/pressreleases/2010/spb-mobile-shell-5.0-arrives-brings-support-for-symbian-and-android-along.html
this would have been a great android phone buuuut,
@lv2bll54
I know, is it just me, or is the android hardware recently been just butt ugly. The nexus one is okay but I haven't seen much else that's really appealing. A bunch of the winmo handsets though have been downright sexy. The Imagio, Touch Pro 2, HD2, and the list goes on(I don't know the specific SE models but some of them have been nice.)
@KyleLipp
Sorry, that should have read: "I know! Is it just me or....
put windows phone 7 on it and i'm sold
@Xstream
Me Too!
Interesting smartphone here, many would not reject such a gadget. Honestly, it reminds me of my old smartphone, the T-Mobile G1. Also, just a quick question what processor does it have? Is it a 1ghz one and do the apps run smoothly on it?
I'm glad they chose capacitive. I didn't think they were going to get 7 Series because i thought it would be resistive. Hopefully it gets 7.
@n8equalsd
Good point...it looks like WP7S will be the end of resistive touch screens, eh? Well, for WM at least. I don't think anyone has brought that up yet.
Now there will be no more pointless arguments about which is better by geeks. I say good riddance; capacitive is way more responsive and the multi-point gesture thing is very cool as well. Resistive -- sorry, time to kick your ancient technology ass to the curb.
Now only if the droid would have made a keyboard like this!
@DoctarPeppar
and a better processor/
@adamlovezu
Droid has OMAP3430 -- it's a very advanced processor, it can outdo the snapdragon imho.
@DoctarPeppar
your honest opinion is wrong lol.
its 6 mhz to 1 ghz whos gonna win.
@DoctarPeppar
your honest opinion is wrong lol.
its 600 mhz to 1 ghz whos gonna win.
@DoctarPeppar
your honest opinion is wrong lol.
its 600 mhz to 1 ghz whos gonna win.
@DoctarPeppar
your honest opinion is wrong lol.
its 600 mhz to 1 ghz whos gonna win.
@(Unverified)
Clock speed doesn't matter with a RISC cpu you ingnorant douche bag.
Hopefully it'll get HDMI out and keep USB host function from TG01. Combine it with W7P and it'll be best device. Big, nice screen, hardware keyboard(which looks quite good) and fast hardware platform(1Ghz snapdragon CPU).
Which OS does it currently have?
@starklombardi
WinMo 6.5.3 with skin.
I tottaly get this phone if it didn't have Wondows Mobile®. Sorry to all you Windows® lovers.
"We also can't help but notice the three buttons (soft touch) across the bottom that could quite easily be skinned for Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 Series, could they not?"
They possibly could be skinned, but I don't think the phone will support Windows Phone 7. Microsoft clearly indicated that the buttons must be Back, Start and Search. The device lacks 2 of them therefore not qualified.
@Ahmed Eltawil
I disagree. They are keys and can be mapped to whatever Toshiba desires. If the other specs align with what has blessed for Windows 7 however, does remain a question.
These kinds of keyboards seem too inconvenient for me to jump into. Also seems outdated... I suspect this phone is for the Sidekickers of the world who are just used to it. Other than that, nice job Tosh.